@underlap@fosstodon.org
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

underlap

@underlap@fosstodon.org

Husband, father, grandfather, follower of Jesus, but very much a work in progress.

Retired software developer, visiting lecturer, IETF editor. Likes repairability. BTW I use arch.

Hobbies: reading, blogging, running, sailing.

Delighted to live in Winchester, UK. Involved in a local church.

Banner: Derwent Water
Profile picture: Dorset coast

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

ondrej, to random
@ondrej@sury.org avatar

These are the iKeys for the new Thales Luna HSM.

My precious!

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@ondrej @ondrejkolin Is this a crucial part of the internet's DNS? Hard to tell, but sounds fascinating.

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@ondrej @ondrejkolin Thanks. And, wow, you must REALLY trust the delivery firm.

underlap, to random
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

Added an AI policy statement to my personal web site: I don't use AI generated content and I block AI web crawlers.

Details here: https://underlap.org/about

timbray, to random
@timbray@cosocial.ca avatar

Anthropic’s “ClaudeBot/1.0” is scraping the hell outta my blog. I’m sure they’ve carefully reviewed my clearly-labeled “Rights” link attached to each article and will be careful to respect it.

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@timbray I took the approach of actively blocking such bots rather than just hoping they honour robots.txt: https://underlap.org/blocking-ai-web-crawlers

cory, to tech
@cory@social.lol avatar

🔗: Logitech’s Mouse Software Now Includes ChatGPT Support, Adds Janky ‘ai_overlay_tmp’ Directory to Users’ Home Folders via Stephen Hackett https://512pixels.net/2024/04/ai-overlay-tmp-home-folder-mac-os/

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@cory I was perfectly happy with my £5 Logitech wired mouse I bought over 10 years ago (to replace a battery-powered mac input device, on the basis of sustainability). I'm even happier now.

ben, to random
@ben@werd.social avatar

There are obviously three models of government: iOS, Windows, and Linux. Hear me out. https://werd.io/2024/the-three-operating-system-models-of-government

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@ben Why iOS rather than macOS (the latter being more comparable to Windows and Linux)?

Also, isn't Linux a (benevolent) dictatorship? 😉

collinsworth, to random
@collinsworth@hachyderm.io avatar

This is why I hate Safari/iOS.

It's the exact same page, with the exact same code, on both sides. But on the left (Safari on MacOS), the arrow shows above the item as it should, and on the right (Safari on iOS), the arrow is inexplicably behind the circle.

Note there's no z-index involved anywhere here. This is all just default browser stacking order.

One browser shouldn't have two separate implementations of stacking order.

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@collinsworth "Write once, test everywhere"

jtonline, to random
@jtonline@mastodon.me.uk avatar

Signing people up to my mission to replace Java support with Rust in product [redacted]!

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@jtonline Very good. Do customers use the product's Java support?

clobrano, to random
@clobrano@fosstodon.org avatar

How does anybody get good in writing software design docs? The more I try, the less I feel confident 🙄

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@clobrano That's a great question. Some suggestions:

  1. Find and read good design docs.
  2. Ask people to provide feedback on the design docs you write.
  3. Search the web for checklists of topics to include.
  4. Add your own topics relevant to the area you work in.
  5. Work on your general writing skills, e.g. read "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White.

1/2

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@clobrano
6. If you understand an aspect of the design clearly, write it up so others can understand it too. If you don't understand an aspect, write down a question about it and try to find the answer.

2/2

bladews, to IBM
@bladews@fosstodon.org avatar

nearing deal for cloud software provider https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/ibm-nearing-buyout-deal-hashicorp-wsj-reports-2024-04-23/

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@bladews When I joined IBM in 1981 it was still willing to bet $millions on "serial, back-to-back impossibilities" in the form of internal mega-projects which often came to nothing.

I worked on one such project, SOM (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_System_Object_Model), in the 90s.

More recently, IBM seems content to let other companies take the risks and then purchase some which turn a profit (e.g. Red Hat).

This is good accountancy, but a shame for a former technological powerhouse.

superterrific, to random
@superterrific@mastodon.social avatar

🆒 I enjoyed reading this and you might too:

Thinking about what’s next

https://www.lkhrs.com/blog/2024/whats-next/

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@superterrific "I like repetitious work that allows me to develop a process." would seem to make this guy unique. I have never met a developer who would admit to liking repetitive work.

cstross, (edited ) to random
@cstross@wandering.shop avatar

New blog entry: The Radiant Future! (Of 1995)

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2024/04/the-radiant-future-of-1995.html

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@cstross Very good.

> Macintosh® Powerbook™ is all that's left of the glory that was Apple: a range of black plastic PowerPC business laptops sold by Lenovo. Main value proposition: they run COBOL business applications real good.

Reminds me of IBM PC AT/370 which could also run CICS, COBOL, and other business-critical software.

underlap, to random
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

I think the IndieWeb should foster conversation and debate. We need to read each other's posts and respond to them rather than writing in a vacuum.

For example, a post: https://henko.net/blog/why-write-unit-tests/ and my response: https://underlap.org/why-write-unit-tests

thepracticaldev, to random
@thepracticaldev@fosstodon.org avatar

6 common anxieties for new coders (& how to overcome them)

Don't fear the reaper. Or math. Or failure. Here's some advice to feed the right inner wolf.


https://dev.to/educative/6-common-anxieties-for-new-coders-how-to-overcome-them-hld

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@thepracticaldev I doubt that many back-end web developers need to understand calculus or trigonometry.

kev, to random
@kev@fosstodon.org avatar

This is a bit scummy from . Spun up a teeny weeny VPS to test some stuff, and because I changed the contract to monthly instead of yearly (same price) they applied a £10(+VAT) "setup fee”.

It's an automated process!!

Makes me want to fuck them off.

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@kev I would give them a ring, if you can be bothered. My VPS failed to configure and I ended up with two accounts and an excess charge, but they were apologetic when I rang up and sorted it out.

henrikjernevad, to programming
@henrikjernevad@mastodon.social avatar

Why should you unit test? What should you unit test? And how much?

Today's blog post answers these questions and provides some helpful guidelines.

The post is actually a lightly edited extract of a book on unit testing that I started about 10 years ago but never finished. Still, it has aged reasonably well.

https://henko.net/blog/why-write-unit-tests/

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@henrikjernevad I really enjoyed your post and thought it deserved a response. https://underlap.org/why-write-unit-tests

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@henrikjernevad @bluGill Don't you think some design is needed before you get anywhere near the code? (The best designed code is the code that didn't need to be written.)

underlap, to random
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

New post: Dot Social: Threads Has Entered the Fediverse https://underlap.org/dot-social-threads-has-entered-the-fediverse

@mike
@rklambo @pcottle

underlap, to random
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

Added a diagram to post: Blocking AI web crawlers

https://underlap.org/blocking-ai-web-crawlers

ben, to random
@ben@werd.social avatar

I don't like reading from an ereader - I'm one of those old-school people who prefer actual paper books - but I can no longer use a reading light in bed because it'll wake up the kid. An ereader with a backlight would be better. But I don't buy books on Amazon. What's your favorite non-Kindle reader that you've actually used?

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@ben Have you tried one of those small LED lights that clips to the book? I would have thought that was unlikely to wake anyone sleeping nearby.

BTW I'm with you in shunning Amazon where possible.

underlap, to random
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

I've amalgamated two previous posts on blocking AI web crawlers: https://underlap.org/blocking-ai-web-crawlers

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@henrikjernevad I have wondered the same thing. In fact I'll add that to the post. I think it comes down to the difference between being loose/lazy and downright dishonest.

ben, to random
@ben@hardill.me.uk avatar

Ordering yet more PVC window handles.

I can't see why the locking tang keeps failing, they are totally hidden from all sources of UV

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@ben We've got uPVC windows with that problem. Seems like the spindles (tangs?) are too short and the uPVC eventually gives way. I wonder how common this problem is?

kev, to random
@kev@fosstodon.org avatar

Discovered @coleb blog this morning after he followed me here, and I’m really enjoying his writing. You should probably add this one to your RSS reader.

https://coleb.blog

underlap,
@underlap@fosstodon.org avatar

@kev @coleb Very readable, e.g. https://coleb.blog/posts/my-productive-setup reminds me of an object on my desk that brings me joy: my counter-cultural executive pen holder that I've used since my IBM days. I guess you either love it or hate it? 😉

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